Mental health articles

the risk of sexual abuse is oppression of minorities An important societal dynamic that is probably implicated in risk of sexual abuse is oppression of minorities. The United States has a long history of oppression and institutionalized racism. Oppression and discrimination result in a variety of problems within minority communities, including less access to resources, income, and wealth. The lesser resources coalesce to place a greater burden upon minority communities by increasing stressors. These stressors, in turn, may increase risk of abuse. All minorities may not be at equal risk of sexual abuse, however. Blauner (1972) has suggested that minorities can be divided into those who are colonized peoples (e.g., Mexican Americans, African Americans, and Native Americans) versus those who choose to immigrate. Further, they suggest that oppression and discrimination are greatest for those who are forcibly colonized. If this is the case, then Mexican Americans, African Americans, and Native Americans are at increased risk of abuse because they are the most oppressed groups and thus suffer greater stressors. Asian Americans and other immigrants, because they neither represent the most oppressed nor the most powerful groups, are at lesser risk of abuse. Finally, Caucasian children, because they represent the most powerful race, may be at increased risk of abuse by the most powerful members of society—caucasian males. These complex pathways may partially explain the diverse findings concerning race.

Tags: sexual abuse